Students participating in Montezuma County’s annual education program, Teen Maze, will get a firsthand glimpse at the effects of distracted driving on Wednesday and Thursday.

Organized by the School Community Youth Collaborative, Teen Maze turns the Indoor Arena at Montezuma County Fairgrounds into a maze of rooms, each one designed to teach teens about various skills to learn and risks to avoid as they reach adulthood. The UNITE Arrive Alive tour, a traveling distracted driving simulation, will join several Montezuma County organizations in the event. The simulation is designed to replicate the experience of driving while drunk and driving while distracted by a cell phone.

“Drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” a news release from UNITE said.

The simulation is “designed to heighten awareness to the dangers and consequences of impaired and distracted driving,” the release said.

Todd Betzold, a spokesman for the organization, said the simulation has traveled to schools, businesses and events all over the U.S. during the past 15 years. Its latest stop was at Colorado Mountain College, and its next stop after Teen Maze will be in Arizona.

The Arrive Alive room at Teen Maze is being sponsored by Dolores County and Students Tackling Unhealthy Decisions. It will be at the Fairgrounds from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, call Todd Betzold at 888-436-3394.

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